Fellowship of Fantasy: Reader Reviews

Rating: PGReason for choice of rating: Romantic tension between the two main characters, people getting turned to ice and melted, epic battle at the end with mild fantasy violence

The Review:Rizkaland is unique and every bit as much fun as Bookania, but in different ways. The world is cylinder-shaped, science works differently there, and of course, portals exist between our world and there, so our hero and heroine are not native to Rizkaland.The main characters, Clara and Andrew, hail from our world, and get pulled through a doorway into Rizkaland in order to fulfill a prophecy and save multiple kingdoms from Amber, the dragon who threatens their world. However, Clara and Andrew aren’t certain they want anything to do with this destiny that has been thrust upon them. And they certainly have no interest in falling in love with each other, as the prophecy seems to imply must happen!Things I Loved:The Writing Style – It’s hard to describe a writing style, as each reader is going to have a different sort of taste or preference, but Kendra’s writing just sort of draws me in and invites me to pull a warm blanket around my shoulders and settle in, because I just know I’m about to embark on a fun adventure.Andrew – Andrew is my favorite character in this story. He is responsible, caring, compassionate, and exactly the sort of person you’d want on your side if you had to go up against a dragon. I love that he represents a more “hearth-like” sort of fire, the steady, gentle glow that keeps you warm, rather than the raging inferno or devouring monstrosity that “fiery” personalities usually engender. But that doesn’t mean he’s weak, on the contrary, it might take more to get him riled, but Andrew is no slouch when it comes to protecting the people he cares about. He has a core of steel.Clara – Although it took me longer, I did eventually grow to enjoy Clara. She got on my nerves a bit in the beginning, but she was frightened and so I suppose it makes sense that she felt the need to be prickly. I also have a soft spot for feisty, talented female protagonists who are a bit marshmallowy inside than they seem. Clara’s not as tough as she’d like you to think she is.The plot - From mazes and puzzles to solve, journeys across foreign lands, quests to find each other, hints that not all is as it seems, and the culmination of an epic battle… this story was fun to read!The references – Clara quotes things. I quote things. I think, on that front, we’d be kindred spirits. It makes me happy that I “got” every reference she made, and it was entertaining to come across these little quote-nuggets throughout the book.Things I Didn’t Love:As I mentioned earlier, Clara took a while to grow on me. She starts out kind of obnoxious, and I sort of wanted to shake her every now and then.There were a few places where the story felt like it dragged a little and nothing seemed to be happening.The battle at the end sort of felt like it ended too easily, like Amber had been hyped-up a bit too much… I guess I was expecting something a bit more epic and grand in scope.The “it’s all going to end okay” use of prophecy throughout the story kind of grated a bit on my nerves. Don’t get me wrong, I love the prophecy trope (I wrote one, myself!), I love books with happy endings and I always want the good guys to win… but I don’t want to know a quarter of the way into the book that the ending WILL be happy and that the good guys will win. For me, that detracts from the adventure. Everything was spelled out so neatly in the prophecy, it wasn’t a mysterious prophecy, it was a “this is what is going to happen, so get on board and go do it” kind of prophecy, and for me, that made it hard to get too worried about the characters.These are minor quibbles, however, and overall the story was an enjoyable read.Ideal Audience:I think this would be a great book for readers 12 and up who enjoy bantering characters, sword fights, and portal fantasy.

Books and movies you would compare this to:I recommend it to anyone who enjoys The Chronicles of Narnia, Alice in Wonderland, Inkheart, or portal fantasies in general.

Did you have a favorite character or least favorite character?Favorite: Andrew

What mood did this book leave you in?Satisfied... but that EPILOGUE!!! *sobs*

Rating: PGReason for choice of rating:There are a couple of kisses, which were pretty tame and not described really at all, but there's also a lot of emotional investment between the characters, hence the slightly higher rating. (minor content point related to a spoiler. Scroll down to the bottom of the review to be informed)

The Review:CommonThis book tore my heart out numerous times. I can't even express to you how many times I felt like the book could have ended so happily only to turn the page and experience the exact emotions of Luke Skywalker upon discovering that Darth Vader is his father!

I just finished this book last night and I am still processing. There were a lot of emotions throughout this story, and trying to sift through them is complicated. I think I'm just going to have to give you a list of the 10 things I loved about this book.

1. I'm not sure how to "title" this first point... so I'm just going to explain it, instead. This is the sort of book that has time-traveling capabilities. It's the kind of book that pulls you in and refuses to let you go. It's the sort of book where you lose all track of time and think, "I can't have been reading for very long... I'll just read one more chapter." Only to look up and discover that your afternoon has disappeared. I love that kind of book, the kind that is so immersive that you don't even notice you've spent several blissful hours reading.

2. Leah Wellstone. The main character was absolutely delightful. I tend to prefer male MCs and it can often be difficult for me to connect with female protagonists... particularly female protagonists who are telling the story from a first-person POV... so this is VERY high praise, indeed, because Leah has taken a place in my heart on the "favorite characters" list, and that is no easy feat! Unlike so many typical first-person female protagonists these days, Leah was not at all a whiny, self-absorbed, angry teenager with low self-esteem. She wasn't a perfect Mary Sue, either. (A "Mary Sue" for those unfamiliar with the term are "perfect or idealized fictional characters who are able to perform tasks better than they should be able given their experience") Leah was definitely not that. She had her share of flaws - she is shy, she's a little naive and a bit too trusting at times, and she struggles with doubts about herself and whether or not she believes in the Luminate (this world's name for God).

3. Rafe. Prince Raphael, to be exact. While there were times I wanted to step into the book and absolutely wring his neck for being terribly stupid, I just couldn't help but love him, as well. Though he is impetuous, a bit reckless, and entirely too oblivious to how he takes his position for granted, he means well, and you just have to love him for trying so hard. Despite his flaws and youth, the author does a fantastic job showing that he truly does have the makings of a great leader and king...

4. Unexpected twists and turns. Another thing I loved about this book was how it kept me on the edge of my seat. I had no idea where it was going to go next. Leah runs into several obstacles throughout the story and with each one I was left wondering, "How in the world is she going to overcome that?" She always had a plan of some kind, but I could never predict what it would be.

5. This is another point I don't have a name for... Emotional Investment, maybe? The story ripped my heart out multiple times... not just once, like normal stories... but it also did a good job stitching the pieces back together.

6. Friendship/Romance. I loved how Rafe and Leah were friends, and how it was obvious that they had been friends their whole lives, before they fell in love. I'm not always a huge fan of romance, but the kind I tend to like best is the kind that just sort of happens naturally and feels believable as the story unfolds. This was exactly the sort and amount of romance I enjoy in a story. There were emotions and a couple of kisses, but even though their romance was central to the story, it wasn't overpowering and the plot and character development came first. I also loved that part of the building blocks of their friendship came through Rafe teaching Leah to read when they were children!

7. The gentle fairy-tale elements to this fantasy novel. There was a lovely fairy-tale feel to this story, though I didn't notice it at first. For the first three-quarters of the book, it honestly doesn't even seem to have very many overtly "Fantasy" elements to it, either. The "not our world" medieval castle/royalty setting was the only clue to the genre for much of the story. I'm not going to give any spoilers, but there are some more fantasy elements that come through later in the story that took me pleasantly by surprise!

8. Leah's Mother. It would have been so easy for the author to make Leah an orphan. SO EASY. But I'm just thrilled that she didn't. Leah's Ma is an incredible character and a wonderful mom (which was a neat side-benefit to reading this in May right before Mother's Day) and there just aren't enough of her kind of character in fantasy. I appreciated the tension that having her mother around added to Leah's life and the decisions she had to make... as her mother is both strong of faith and capable as a seamstress, but also not in the best of health.

9. Gretchen. Leah's best friend did not get a lot of page-time, but she was a fun little bundle of energetic addition to the story. I loved that Leah had a fairly normal existence. She has a good position as a chamber-maid, and even has potential to move up in the world. She has a loving mother, good friends, and even her "boss" is stern, but kind, and thinks highly of Leah.

10. The end. I can't say ANYTHING about this because SPOILERS but I will say that it is beautiful and perfect and I did NOT think it was going to be because the story seemed determined to prevent the ending from being anything like what I was hoping for... I think the thing I appreciate most is that the author let certain characters be far more than caricatures. People can change. Circumstances and events of magnitude can change minds and stances. Even those set in their ways can learn humility and wisdom. And that is illustrated beautifully at the end of this book. I'm not even disappointed that the sequel appears to be about completely different characters, that is how satisfying the end was.

11. Honorable mention: the nuns were another favorite aspect of this story, but I really can't say anything about them without giving away spoilers.... so.... just go read the book yourself and then we can discuss!

Ideal Audience:12 and up, lovers of Kingdom Adventure, fairy tales, romance, and adventureBooks and movies you would compare this to:Ever After

Did you have a favorite character or least favorite character? Favorite: Leah

The Review:What a fun anthology! I love anthologies with a common theme-in this case doorways-because it allows me to see the breadth of artistic creativity. Each author has their own unique spin on the theme, and each story has its own unique world. I was entranced by this volume, and I truly believe there is something in here for everyone. Well done!Ideal Audience:Anyone who enjoys portal fantasy.What mood did this book leave you in?Satisfied.

The Review:Meet Robin and Robert, royal twins who seem to be the victims of a tragic mistake. You see, when they were born, their fairy godmother mixed up their gifts. Princess Robin is quite handy with a sword, while Prince Robert spends his hours sewing marvelous tapestries. Their parents have been searching for a way to switch the twins’ gifts, and a way has finally been found! The twins must undertake a quest to find their fairy godmother and make the request themselves… that is… if they still want their gifts switched by the time they find her!

Sew is short, sweet, and a fairly quick read. The characters don’t always know exactly where they’re going and sometimes the plot meanders a bit, but the author is quick to point it out when this happens, which is highly entertaining. The twins are fun characters to spend time with and along the way they start to gather up quite a collection of fellow travelers – most of whom the reader will recognize from various fairy tales.

The story is well written, well-edited, and the only thing that took some getting used to was the way some of the characters use a sort of “Old English” way of speaking… which isn’t always correct or true to our own “Old English,” but then, Bookania isn’t exactly in our world, and Kendra is consistent with how she uses the dialect, so it worked for me.

While the end of the story does not come as a shock (it’s a fairy tale, the ending isn’t really supposed to be a shock), there are enough surprises to keep the reader interested, and more than enough truly fantastic puns that will keep you chuckling out loud as you read. The story wraps up nicely, without any pesky cliffhangers, but leaves itself open for a sequel.

The Review:The little guys win the day!What a wonderful story showing that it isn't one's physical size but the size of one's love that matters.Thaddeus Whiskers is enchanted to stay ever an adorable kitten and given to Princess Clarice as her royal companion on her eighth birthday. Thaddeus and Clarice are totally happy until Wizard Hermes messes up on his attempt to make Thaddeus more perfect for Clarice's 10th birthday and Thaddeus is sent away from the castle. Thus begins a series of adventures as Thaddeus attempts to make his way back to his beloved Clarice and finds some new friends along the way.I absolutely love the interaction between so many of the different characters and how they help each other in this story and happening to know a little bit about the author, I am not surprised at all that a cat and a dragon are so prominently and wonderfully featured.Delightful story for both young and old.

Ideal Audience:Children who love cats, dragons and/or princesses will surely enjoy this story but so will parents and grandparents who get to read it to them and even those who read the story without a child to listen along.

Did you have a favorite character or least favorite character?Even though I am not a cat-lover Thaddeus was adorable; I really liked Grandious the Dragon and the interaction between Grandious and Thaddeus. Without giving too much away, I have to say that Snickersnout also surprised me.

The Review:I thoroughly enjoyed this second story in the Firethorn Chronicles. I am not familiar with a Midsummer Night's Dream so am not sure how closely inspired by it this story is but the bad guy (or girl in this case) was very sinister and the romance was sweet in Lea Doue's version.Princess Gwen is a force to be reckoned with and I enjoyed getting to know her in this story after primarily focusing on Princess Lily in The Firethorn Crown.I appreciated that this was a complete story on its own but I am still looking forward to learning more about the princesses when Lea finishes book 3 later this year (2017).

Ideal Audience:Anyone who loves fairytale re-tellings and dragonsDid you have a favorite character or least favorite character?Sissi is creepy; I like Prince Edric and Princess Gwen - both are quite resourceful and care for othersWhat mood did this book leave you in?Eager to read more about these characters and this world​Applicable Tags:Dragon, Fairy Tale, Princesses, Romance

Title and Author:King's Warrior by Jenelle Leanne SchmidtName of Reviewer:Jolyn SafronRating:PGReason for choice of rating:A lot of people are killed in the book (no graphic details) between attacks on the towns and battle scenes.

The Review:When I started this story, I thought it was about Princess Kamarie but it turned out to be so much more! Many interesting characters including dragons and other mythical creatures. Lots of action including both large and small battles (none of which are graphically described but you still feel very engaged with the participants) but the friendships are the best part. Characters moving from simply travel companions to friends willing to fight and die for each other. Can't forget some interesting secrets revealed along the way either. All in all, a very satisfying tale and I look forward to more adventures with these characters in the next book.

Ideal Audience:Good for those who love dragons (although these dragons aren't loveable); enjoy epic battles between the strong and the weak where the weak refuse to give up; and want to really connect with the characters in a story.

Did you have a favorite character or least favorite character?I like most all of the characters but I think Oraeyn was my favorite. He isn't intimidated by Princess Kamarie but takes his job of protecting her very seriously. He also doesn't give in to fear when it is time to actually put his training to the battle test.

The Review:When Ravens Fall is a marvelous novella with an old Norse setting. If you love stories like Beauty and the Beast, How to Train Your Dragon, and feisty heroines like Cimorene in Dealing with Dragons then you will love this book. Follow Astrid, the daughter of the town dragon-slayer as she takes it upon herself to change her own fate and attempt to change the fate of her entire town. A curse has been laid upon her village, and each year, one girl is chosen to attempt to break the curse… but each year, the girl is sent home in disgrace. Astrid’s name is not eligible to be entered into this trial, due to the fact that she is not a servant, but when she willingly throws her marker in with the others, fate appears to twist to her whim.

Like everything I’ve read by this author so far, the story started out right in the middle of the action. This can be a little disorienting and confusing at first, but I enjoy that the set-up is sort of skipped and left for later. Immersed in the moment with each character, I had to let the backstory surround me and figure things out as I went. But Ms. Jezowski unwraps her stories so well, that the mystery and lack of immediate understanding of what all is going on is well worth the read and the wait, and she ties up most of the mystery by the end of the story, so don’t worry that you’ll be left still wondering what in the world is going on. You will be left wanting more… but that’s not a bad thing!

I loved the characters. I loved the story. I loved the writing style. There are princesses and dragons and questions about true love: what is it? Can it truly triumph over all?

This is a beautiful tale. A coming-of-age. A fairy tale romance. A tale of self-discovery for many of the characters. And all of these elements are woven together into a veritable tapestry of words. It is a short, quick read, and will keep you on the edge of your seat all the way to the end.

The only negative remark I have to offer is that because it is so short, there are a few things I still don’t really understand. I wish that more pages could have been devoted to the dragon and how he played into the entire story, and maybe a little bit more backstory for Baldur and Kenna so that I could understand them a bit more. But even without those things, I loved this novella and I definitely recommend it to anyone who enjoys fairy tales and dragons.Ideal Audience:Books and movies you would compare this to:Beauty and the Beast, Dealing with Dragons, How to Train Your Dragon

Did you have a favorite character or least favorite character?I really liked all the characters, but Astrid was my favorite.

What mood did this book leave you in?Wanting to spend more time in this world/with these characters

My only complaint was that the book was too long. (I know, lame complaint) I kept reading and reading, pressing on to the end, because I was dying to finish it, but it took me forever.

I was completely caught up in the characters' lives. Even in the beginning, when the novel took a while to take off, I found every detail interesting. This is a new world with things like burrowing dragons and lizard men. The novel follows three characters, two of which I knew would converge at some point, and I loved the dynamics once they did.

I'd call this a cozy swords and sorcery book with a lot of adorable romance. It's just a feel good book, one to curl up with before a fire and read for nine hours straight.

My favorite thing was the accents. Some brogue in there. Aye, it was entertain' and cute.

We start out with a prince who was pretty much unimpressive. I actually worried for him. Eep. Where was he going in life? But he was endearing. All the characters were. Even the villain. The villain had a conscious. And a mean violent streak. Liked.

And I loved Mercy. She could do amazing things. She was selfless. It was fun to watch her grow, along with the prince.

There's a super fab magical element in play. The characters can See things. As in, like a seer/mind reader. Great angle.

All around awesome read. Will give sequels and other books by the author a read.

Ideal Audience:Ages 14+

What mood did this book leave you in?entrancedApplicable Tags:​Dragon, Epic, Sword and Sorcery, High Fantasy, Magic, New Adult, Princesses, Romance, Young Adult

Reviews by Readers

This blog features reviews of Fellowship of Fantasy titles submitted by readers.All reviews are the opinion of the reviewer, not necessarily of the Fellowship of the Fantasy's administrators or authors.Likewise content ratings applied to the books are at the discretion of that particular reader/reviewer. What may be a G for one may be PG for another.